Joseph Milton Ortega, family, friend, gym and fishing buddy, passed away on September 6, 2024 in Boise, Idaho, at age 83. Joseph is survived by his children, Camille Ortega, Nichole Ortega (Ford White), and Joseph Ryan Ortega (Angie), and his sister Diana Olson.
Joe was born on December 4, 1940 in Pocatello, Idaho to Joseph Mark Ortega and Dorothy June Helm Ortega. Growing up in Pocatello, Joe developed a passion for sports where his natural athletic ability was first discovered while playing Little League Baseball. He went on to become an all- around athlete in junior high and high school, excelling in football, basketball, track and field. He was also active in student government, serving as student body president at Alameda Junior High School and student body vice president at Pocatello High School. In Joe’s senior year he was voted King Co-ed by the lovely ladies of Poky High. He graduated in 1959.
Joe continued his education, having been awarded a full basketball and track and field athletic scholarship at Idaho State University, and earned a BA degree in political science in 1964. While attending ISU Joe married fellow student, Jacqueline Taylor, of Pocatello and they had their first child, Camille. In 1964 while still residing in Pocatello, Joe began his lifelong career in education at Highland High School, teaching U.S. Government.
In 1967, Joe relocated his family to Utah Valley, Utah to begin graduate work in political science at Brigham Young University. In 1969 Joe began a 31-year career teaching Government and World History at Orem High School. During that time, the family grew with the addition of two more children, Nichole and Ryan. After many years of marriage and raising a family in Orem, Joe and Jacqueline divorced. In 1997, Joe married Pam Arnold in Orem, Utah. They divorced after several years, but remained friends.
Joe continued his love for sports and fitness at this time, pursuing new paths in running and weightlifting. He excelled and was knowledgeable in all aspects of both new pursuits, and found great enjoyment in the camaraderie found in the local gyms and fitness centers.
Joe’s passion for athletic sports was matched only by his life-long love for the sport of fishing and the outdoors, always swearing his children to silence on fishing trips, lest they disclose the location of his “hot spots” to anyone but his closest fishing buddies. During summer breaks from teaching in the 1970’s, Joe served as a youth team leader for the Youth Conservation Corps, operated by the Departments of Interior and Agriculture, which provided youth conservation-related employment and education opportunities. He enjoyed teaching his teams the value of hard work, discipline, the importance of respect for wildlife conservation, and the joy found in the beauty of the outdoors.
In 2006, he relocated to Boise, Idaho where he remained until his passing.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Dorothy, his sister Donna Marie Ortega, and his brother-in-law William D. Olson.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Bannock House Residential Assisted-Living and accompanying hospice care, and Family Health Care of Boise for the caring support of their father.
There will be no services at this time. A celebration of life will be planned for a later date.